New Minister for Territories

Yesterday Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced his new Ministry appointing Mrs Nola Marino MP as the new Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Territories. Details of the full ministry can be found at https://www.pmc.gov.au/sites/default/files/publications/ministry-list-26-may-2019.pdf which we have attached to this community bulletin for your convenience.

Nola will tell you that she has spent her whole life in the South West of West Australia. She and her husband have a family dairy farm business. Nola is known for her work in her local community having held various positions on numerous community, regional and agricultural organisations and bodies. She is a former ABC Regional Rural Woman of the Year.

Nola has been the Federal Member for Forrest since November 2007. On the 27 September 2015, Nola became the first female to be appointed to the position of Chief Government Whip. I had the pleasure of working with Nola during my time in Parliament and know her to be hard working, capable and committed to getting results. I look forward to working with her again.

Nola replaces the Hon Sussan Ley MP, who has been promoted into Cabinet as the Minister for the Environment. I enjoyed working with Sussan during her time as the Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Territories and greatly appreciated her support and interest in developing the Indian Ocean Territories. Sussan endorsed the new Strategic Plans for both Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and provided funding to kick start a number of the key priority actions in the plans. I wish her well in her new role.

Senator Nigel Scullion has retired after many years representing the Northern Territory and the Indian Ocean Territories. I thank him for his service and contribution. At the recent election, Dr. Sam McMahon was elected as the new Senator for the Northern Territory. Senator McMahon, a veterinarian based in Katherine, is a previous winner of the Northern Territory Telstra Small Business and Business Women’s Awards. Senator McMahon will join Senator Malarndirri McCarthy representing the Northern Territory in the Senate together with the Hon Warren Snowden MP who has been re-elected as the Member for Lingiari.

I am delighted that that we have so many women in leadership roles supporting the Indian Ocean Territories with our new Assistant Minister, both Northern Territory Senate positions, the Council President and Chief Executive Officer of the Shire of Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and myself as Administrator.

Natasha Griggs
Administrator
Territories of Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands